Political Quotes

“I rise today to applaud my colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan fashion to pass the farm bill conference report. There is much to be excited about in the final version of this 5-year reauthorization. First and foremost, the farm bill will bring much needed certainty and predictability to farmers and ranchers over the next 5 years. This is especially important given the intense pressure our agriculture producers are facing. If you look at the numbers across the Nation, net farm income is approximately half of what it was when we passed the last farm bill. Farm bankruptcies are up by 39 percent since 2014; financing has become more expensive; commodity prices have plummeted; input costs are rising; and the trade outlook is volatile and uncertain, to say the least. Farmers across the country--regardless of where they call home or which crops they grow--are hurting. The farm bill that Congress approved last week, delivers meaningful and real relief for our farmers and ranchers in these very difficult times. It is the big bill for my home State of Arkansas as well as across the country. Agriculture is a driving force of the Natural State's economy, adding around $16 billion to our economy every year and accounting for approximately one in every six jobs. That is why agriculture advocacy groups in Arkansas were very excited when we passed the final version.…”